Lavrov: Russia will consider F-16 transfer to Ukraine as Western nuclear threat. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kuleba reacts

He said this in an interview with the Russian publication Lenta.ru. 

“We see the presence of such systems in the Armed Forces as a threat from the West in the nuclear sphere,” Lavrov emphasized.

Lavrov also mentioned that “the United States and its NATO allies are creating risks of a direct armed conflict with Russia, which could lead to catastrophic consequences.”

“An example of a dangerous development is the US plans to send F-16 fighter jets to the Kyiv regime. We have informed nuclear powers like the US, Britain, and France that Russia cannot ignore the possibility of these aircraft carrying nuclear weapons. Assurances won't make a difference,” according to Lavrov.

He also stated that “during conflicts, the Russian military won't be able to tell whether each specific aircraft of that type is capable of carrying nuclear weapons or not.”

When asked about the use of nuclear weapons in the Ukrainian conflict, Lavrov mentioned that Russia has previously expressed its stance on this matter.

“If the West hadn't taken actions that continuously highlight the risks of a strategic nature arising from an aggressive anti-Russian policy, we wouldn't have to repeatedly emphasize our position. The conditions for Russia's use of nuclear weapons are clearly stated in our Military Doctrine, which is well-known and doesn't need repeating,” he added. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba reacted to Lavrov's threats on Twitter.

"The only threat to Russia is a Ukrainian soldier. This is who Putin and others should fear the most," he wrote.

Kuleba also noted that Ukraine will receive the F-16 on schedule and it does not matter what the Russian Federation says about this.

"Russia will swallow it, despite the fact that Lavrov babbles menacingly," Kuleba emphasized.

F-16 for Ukraine

• On May 21, U.S. President Joe Biden approved the training of Ukrainians on F-16s. Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that Ukraine would not use these aircraft to strike at Russian territory.

• On May 25, at a meeting in the Ramstein format, it was announced that the coalition to train the Ukrainian Armed Forces with F-16s would be led by Denmark and the Netherlands and would include four other countries: Norway, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland. 

• On June 14, one of the leaders of the "aviation coalition," the Netherlands, announced that training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s would begin in the coming months.

• On June 15, following the Ramstein meeting, Stoltenberg said that training on the F-16 had already begun. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin noted the rapid progress in this area, and a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force said that they wanted a quick result, but that "the process is delayed."

• The same day, it was reported that Denmark and the Netherlands plan to start training Ukrainian pilots this summer and will establish a training center in an Eastern European NATO country.

• Following the Ramstein, Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov expressed confidence that we would have a "bird coalition."

• According to a Politico source, a coalition of Western countries is considering Romania as a place to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s.

• On June 22, Denmark requested assistance from the United States to train Ukrainian pilots in the use of F-16 fighters.

• On June 26, Acting Defense Minister of Denmark, Troels Lund Poulsen, announced the commencement of training for pilots from Ukraine on Western F-16 fighter jets.

• On July 1, President Zelenskyy mentioned that the schedule for training Ukrainian pilots on Western F-16 fighter jets has not been finalized yet, and some foreign partners are causing delays.

• On July 6, media reported that Romania would become a base for training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s.

• On July 7, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Prague that the country will supply helicopters and train pilots to fly F-16s.

• On July 11, Ukraine agreed to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 combat aircraft with France. The countries will sign a memorandum. 

• Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the first F-16 fighter jets will probably fly in the skies of Ukraine by the end of March 2024.

• Also, on July 12, the national security adviser to the US president, Jake Sullivan, said that Ukraine will receive F-16 fighter jets from European countries.